Princess Phoebe by Scilla James

all the money means interest as well.’ He aims another kick at my brother, but misses as Nick rolls over and starts to get up.
    Nick is big and also younger than Frank, but he doesn’t have that vicious streak that I know Frank has. As he gets to his feet, it looks as if Frank will hit him again, but Nick ducks and lands a punch in the middle of Frank’s fat belly.
    I stand rooted to the spot, forgetting that I’m supposed to be hiding. Should I go and try to help Nick, or what ? Then a cold nose pushes itself under my right hand as Princess, her lead trailing behind her as it was dropped by Frank, comes to me for safety.
    I put my hand on her head, thrilled to have her next to me again, but I’m watching my brother too. What to do ? I feel sick at the bashes he’s getting from Frank, although he’s landing quite a few of his own. I’ve seen fights before between Nick and the twins, but I realise now that those had just been playing. These two are fighting properly.
    Nick half turns his head and shouts,
    â€˜Go back to the van, Ellie! Take the dog and go! I’ll join you in a minute.’ Then there’s a horrible thud – while Nick was distracted, Frank hit him again.
    I hadn’t even realised that Nick had seen me, but I decide for once to do as I’m told and, hanging on tight to Princess’s lead, I run for the gate then up the lane as quickly as I can. As I get near Nick’s van, though, a figure steps out from the side of it and stands blocking my way.
    Big Lennie! He must have been waiting outside for Frank, which means he must have seen Nick, and then me, creeping along the lane.
    â€˜Give me the dog,’ he says.
    â€˜No!’ I shout, kicking out at him and gripping the lead with all my strength as he comes closer to me. But Lennie calmly stretches out one tattooed arm and grasps my hand, bending my fingers back and taking the lead from me.
    â€˜We’ve had enough of you,’ he says and, without another word, he walks back down the lane towards Frank’s van, dragging Princess behind him.
    â€˜Oi, Frank!’ I hear him call as he reaches Mrs Henderson’s garden. Within a moment, Frank’s joined him and their engine starts up. There’s a squeal of tyres and they come fast in my direction, then Frank brakes, he winds his window down and smiles through his brown teeth.
    â€˜You’d better go and fetch your brother. He’s lying on the grass. Oh, and don’t even think about reporting your friend’s broken window to the police. If I get just one visit about my dog, it’ll be found in the river before the cops can even get back in their cars.’

11
Calling 999
    Frank was right about Nick being on the grass, though as I get back to him he’s trying to stand up. I hold out a shaky hand.
    â€˜Are you all right?’
    â€˜Never better,’ he says, through a cut on his lip. There’s blood all over the place, and Mrs Henderson’s lawn looks like a road accident’s happened on top of it. Nick groans and stands, nearly pulling me over as he straightens. I feel my hand change shape as he grips it. .
    â€˜I’ll do for that man!’ he says, ‘If it’s the last thing I ever do!’
    â€˜It’s all my fault,’ I say, ‘for taking Princess back in the first place. And now Frank’s going to drown her! Oh, Nick! What are we going to do?’
    Nick dabs at the cut on his face and puts his arm around me. ‘Something,’ he says, ‘we’ll do something.’
    At that moment, we hear a car pulling up outside. Mrs Henderson is back.
    â€˜Ellie? What on earth’s going on?’ As she comes through the gate she’s staring at Nick. ‘What’s happened?’
    â€˜Oh, Mrs Henderson!’ I say, ‘Frank’s been and he’s taken Princess and he’s going to drown her, and he’s beaten Nick up.’ Mrs Henderson stays